Chapter 3- Biopsychology Flashcards
Action Potential
Electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axonAd
Adrenal Gland
sits atop or kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response
Agonist
Drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter
All-or-None
Phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation
Allele
Specific version of a gene
Amygdala
Structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories
Antagonist
Drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter
Auditory Cortex
Strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory information
Autonomic Nervous System
Controls our internal organs and glands
Axon
Major extension of the soma
Biological Perspective
View that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems
Broca’s Area
Region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain and spinal cord
Cerebellum
Hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and it is thought to be important in processing some types of memory
Cerebral Cortex
Surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities
Chromosome
Long strand of genetic information
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
Imaging technique in which a computer coordinates and integrates multiple x-rays of a given area
Corpus Callosum
Thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres
Dendrite
Branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
Helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs
Diabetes
Disease related to insufficient insulin production
Dominant Allele
Allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp
Endocrine System
Series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones
Epigenetics
Study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes
Fight or Flight Response
Activation of the sympathetic nervous system division of the autonomic nervous system, allowing access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that we might fight off a given threat or run away to safety
Forebrain
Largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system, among other structures
Fraternal Twins
Twins who develop from two different eggs fertilized by different sperm, so their genetic material varies the same as in non-twin siblings
Frontal Lobe
Part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language; contains motor cortex
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Type of MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time
Gene
Sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics
Genetic Environmental Correlation
View of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes
Genotype
Genetic makeup of an individual
Glial Cell
Nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and water transport
Gonad
Secretes sexual hormones, which are important for successful reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation and behavior
Gyrus
Bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex
Hemisphere
Left or right half of the brain